Issued  October  7, 1910. 

U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE. 


FARMERS’  BULLETIN  407. 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


BY 

Iv.  C.  CORBETT, 


Horticulturist  in  Charge  of  the  Arlington  Experimental  Farm  and 
Horticultural  Investigations ,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE. 

1910. 


I 


LETTER  OE  TRANSMITTAL. 


U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture, 

Bureau  of  Plant  Industry, 

Office  of  the  Chief, 
Washington ,  D.  C.,  June  1,  1910. 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  and  to  recommend 
for  publication  as  a  Farmers’  Bulletin  a  manuscript  entitled  “The 
Potato  as  a  Truck  Crop,”  prepared  by  Prof.  L.  C.  Corbett,  Horti¬ 
culturist  in  Charge  of  the  Arlington  Experimental  Farm  and  Hor- 
ticidtural  Investigations. 

Respectfully,  G.  H.  Powell, 

Acting  Chief  of  Bureau. 

Hon.  James  Wilson, 

Secretary  of  Agriculture. 

407 

2 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 


Introduction .  5 

The  potato  as  a  truck  crop . 6 

Soil .  8 

Preparation  of  the  soil .  8 

Seed . 

Northern-grown  seed .  9 

Quantity  of  seed .  9 

Second-crop  potatoes  for  seed  at  the  South .  10 

Rapid  germination  of  second-crop  seed .  11 

Held-over  seed .  12 

Treatment  of  seed  for  scab . 13 

Cutting  the  seed . . . -• .  14 

Planting .  14 

Fertilizers .  15 

Fertilizer  constituents .  16 


Cultivation . 

Spraying . 

Preparation  of  Bordeaux  mixture 

Harvesting . 

Digging . 

Packages . 

Grading . 

Marketing . 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Fig.  1.  A  potato  field  in  a  trucking  region  just  before  harvest . 

2.  A  wharf  scene  in  a  trucking  region  during  potato  harvest . 

3.  A  field  of  potatoes  produced  from  home-grown  southern  seed,  at  the  left, 

and  from  northern-grown  seed,  at  the  right . 

4.  A  fertilizer  distributor . 

5.  A  cultivator  with  wing  or  hilling  teeth . 

6.  An  elevated  platform,  showing  a  modern  arrangement  for  the  prepara¬ 

tion  of  Bordeaux  mixture . 

7.  A  spraying  rig  for  applying  liquid  to  both  the  upper  and  the  undei 

surfaces  of  leaves . - . 

8.  A  side  view  of  the  spraying  machine  shown  in  figure  7 . 

9.  Harvesting  potatoes  in  a  trucking  section . 

10.  Potatoes  in  barrels  in  the  field  ready  for  shipment . 

11.  A  barrel  of  new  potatoes  ready  for  the  northern  market . 

407 


Page. 

7 

8 

11 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 
21 
22 
23 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2018  with  funding  from 
University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


https://archive.org/details/potatoastruckcro4014corb 


B.  P.  I.— 584. 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


INTRODUCTION. 

The  term  “potato,”  when  not  modified  by  an  adjective,  suggests 
to  the  mind  of  an  American  the  so-called  Irish  potato  {Solarium 
tuberosum).  When  the  name  is  modified  by  the  word  “sweet,”  ref¬ 
erence  is  made  to  a  different  plant,  belonging  to  the  morning-glory 
family  and  known  botanically  as  Ipomoea  batatas.  In  this  discussion 
attention  will  be  directed  entirely  to  the  Irish  potato. 

This  plant,  which  is  now  recognized  as  an  important  article  of  food, 
as  well  as  an  important  commercial  crop  throughout  the  north  tem¬ 
perate  regions  of  the  earth,  is  of  American  origin.  Among  the  New 
World  plants  which  have  been  brought  under  cultivation  since  the 
discovery  of  America,  this  stands  out  as  one  of  the  most  important, 
being  second  only  to  Indian  corn.  Taking  the  world  over,  the  potato 
is  probably  eaten  by  a  greater  proportion  of  the  earth’s  inhabitants 
than  any  other  crop  except  rice.  The  potato  early  found  a  wide  use 
throughout  Great  Britain  and  the  northern  portion  of  the  continent 
of  Europe.  With  the  development  of  the  New  World  it  immediately 
became  an  important  garden  crop  and  its  cultivation  has  kept  pace 
with  the  increase  in  population  until  now  it  is  distributed  over  the 
entire  area  of  North  America  occupied  by  civilized  peoples.  It  is  a 
commercial  product  in  Mexico  as  well  as  in  Alaska. 

The  potato  is  of  great  economic  importance,  not  merely  as  a  food 
plant  for  man,  but  because  of  the  variety  of  other  uses  to  which  it 
can  be  applied,  principal  among  which  is  the  manufacture  of  starch. 
Varieties  have  been  developed  which  adapt  it  to  the  great  range  ol 
climatic  conditions  which  exist  throughout  the  world.  It  is  grown 
extensively  as  an  early  market-garden  and  truck  crop,  and  even 
more  extensively  as  a  field  crop  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  United 

a  For  other  publications  on  the  potato  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  following 
Farmers’  Bulletins:  No.  324,  entitled  “Sweet  Potatoes;”  No.  365,  entitled  “Potato 
Growing  in  Northern  Sections;”  and  No.  386,  entitled  “Potato  Growing  on  irri¬ 
gated  Farms  of  the  West.”  These  may  be  obtained  free  of  charge  upon  application 
to  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture,  Washington,  D.  C. 


407 


D 


6 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


States.  Ill  some  sections  the  same  land  can  be  made  to  produce  two 
crops  of  potatoes  in  a  single  season,  thus  rendering  it  a  very  important 
and  profitable  industry. 

The  adaptation  of  the  potato  in  the  great  territory  over  which  it 
can  be  grown  has  been  mentioned.  It  is  found,  however,  that  certain 
varieties  are  peculiarly  fitted  for  certain  climatic  regions.  The 
repeated  attempts  which  have  been  made  to  introduce  European  and 
particularly  English  varieties  of  potatoes  into  the  United  States  have 
proved  very  discouraging,  thus  showing  that  varieties  which  are  of 
great  importance  in  England  may  or  may  not  be  well  adapted  to 
American  conditions.  Some  varieties  are  especially  adapted  to  the 
sandy  lands  and  short  season  of  the  Southern  States,  while  other 
varieties  are  preeminently  adapted  to  the  cool,  retentive,  and  heavy 
soils  of  the  Northern  States.  Some  require  only  a  short  season  for 
maturity,  while  others  demand  the  entire  growing  period  to  perfect 
their  crop.  With  this  great  diversity  of  character  it  is  evident  that 
the  potato  can  be  modified  to  meet  almost  every  condition  of  soil  and 
climate  which  exists  in  the  Temperate  Zone.  This  is  not  saying, 
however,  that  every  soil  and  climate  can  be  made  to  produce  a  profit¬ 
able  yield  of  potatoes.  There  will  always  be  certain  regions  possess¬ 
ing  soil  and  climatic  conditions  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  development 
of  this  crop  which  will  form  the  leading  commercial  areas  for  the  cul¬ 
tivation  of  this  product. 

The  discussion  of  this  subject  most  naturally  falls  into  the  methods 
adapted  to  growing  potatoes  as  a  truck  crop  and  the  methods  best 
suited  to  growing  them  as  a  farm  crop.  This  publication  is  confined 
to  a  consideration  of  the  potato  from  the  standpoint  of  the  truck 
grower. 

THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 

The  growing  of  Irish  potatoes  as  a  truck  crop  at  the  South  lias 
assumed  large  proportions.  Thousands  of  acres  are  annually  planted 
to  early  varieties  of  potatoes  which  are  harvested  as  soon  as  they 
have  reached  suitable  size,  regardless  of  their  maturity  (as  suggested 
by  fig.  1),  and  immediately  transported  to  northern  cities  for  distri¬ 
bution  and  consumption.  This  industry  extends  along  the  Atlantic 
seaboard  from  the  southernmost  terminals  of  railway  transporta¬ 
tion  to  the  vicinity  of  the  great  centers  of  consumption,  Florida  pro¬ 
ducing  a  large  annual  crop  of  early  potatoes,  followed  by  Georgia, 
South  Carolina,  North  Carolina,  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  New  Jersey 
in  turn.  The  great  early-potato-producing  sections  of  Florida  are 
centered  around  Hastings;  in  Georgia  the  sections  are  largely  con¬ 
fined  to  the  vicinity  of  Savannah;  in  South  Carolina  a  large  acreage  is 

407 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


7 


cultivated  in  the  trucking  region  about  Charleston ;  in  North  Carolina 
a  very  extensive  crop  is  planted  in  the  vicinity  of  Wilmington;  while 
Norfolk,  Va.,  probably  outclasses  all  other  regions  along  the  Atlantic 
coast  so  far  as  acreage  and  yield  are  concerned.  This  vicinity  is  one 
of  the  oldest  and  largest  early-potato-producing  sections  of  North 
America,  figure  2  showing  a  familiar  condition  at  a  wharf  during  the 
potato  season.  Besides  this  belt  of  country  devoted  to  this  industry 
there  are  isolated  regions  along  the  Gulf  coast  and  in  northern  Texas, 
Kentucky,  and  Missouri  where  potato  growing  has  been  established 
and  has  proved  quite  profitable. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  accurate  statistics  in  regard  to  this  crop, 
for  it  changes  annually  with  the  markets  of  the  preceding  year,  those 
who  engage  in  the  industry,  particularly  in  the  West,  being  influenced 


Fig.  1. — A  potato  field  in  a  trucking  region  just  before  harvest. 


very  decidedly  by  the  previous  year’s  return.  This  is  an  exceedingly 
unfortunate  condition,  as  the  growers  should  determine  their  plant¬ 
ing,  not  by  their  previous  year’s  experience,  but  by  the  condition  of 
the  crop  at  the  North.  The  crop  of  so-called  winter  potatoes  produced 
at  the  North  has  more  influence  upon  the  price  which  will  be  received 
for  the  early  crop  than  any  other  single  factor.  The  truck  farmer 
should  therefore  keep  a  very  careful  record  of  the  crop  at  the  North 
preceding  the  year  his  planting  is  to  be  done.  The  quantity,  quality, 
and  price  of  the  held-over  northern  crop  are  factors  which  decidedly 
influence  the  price  of  the  new  crop  when  it  reaches  the  market.  A 
market  which  is  well  stocked  with  old  potatoes  which  have  been  kept 
in  fairly  good  condition  means  a  very  low  price  for  the  early  crop 
when  it  comes  in  competition  with  such  stock.  As  this  new  crop 
can  not  be  retained  long  in  the  soil  at  the  extreme  South  without 
407 


8  THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 

rapid  deterioration,  neglect  on  the  part  of  the  grower  to  determine 
the  quantity  of  old  potatoes  in  sight  at  planting  season,  as  compared 
with  a  normal  supply,  may  mean  a  very  meager  profit,  if  any,  or  a 
very  heavy  loss  if  the  crop  can  not  be  moved  at  the  proper  season 
and  at  a  satisfactory  price. 

SOIL. 

The  character  of  soil  which  is  best  adapted  to  the  production  of 
early  potatoes  is  a  light  sandy  loam,  what  the  truck  growers  call  a 
‘  ‘ quick  ”  soil,  rather  than  a  heavy,  retentive  one.  In  order  to  produce 


Fig.  2.— A  wharf  scene  in  a  trucking  region  during  potato  harvest. 

early  potatoes  it  is  necessary  to  make  use  of  every  factor  which  will 
stimulate  rapid  growth  and  quick  maturity.  Light,  rather  dry, 
warm  soils  are  nearest  to  the  ideal  for  this  purpose. 

PREPARATION  OF  THE  SOIL. 

Thorough,  deep  preparation  of  the  soil  is  essential  for  success  with 
potatoes.  The  soil  should  be  prepared  by  growing  a  hoed  crop  upon 
it  the  previous  year,  if  possible  one  of  the  legumes,  and  should  be 
cleared  of  all  debris  and  rubbish  during  the  fall  or  winter.  As  soon 
as  conditions  are  favorable  in  the  early  spring  or  late  winter,  the 

407 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


9 


ground  should  be  deeply  and  thoroughly  plowed  either  with  a  disk 
plow  or  a  good  turning  plow.  Following  the  plowing  the  ground 
should  he  thoroughly  fined  and  moderately  well  compacted  by  the  use 
of  a  harrow  and  clod  crusher  if  there  has  been  a  tendency  on  the  part 
of  the  soil  to  bake. 

The  depth  of  plowing  should  not  be  greater  for  potatoes  than  for 
other  truck  crops.  As  a  general  rule,  the  seed  bed  should  be  deep 
and  mellow,  but  it  is  not  safe  to  turn  up  too  much  subsoil  at  any  one 
time.  It  is  well  to  deepen  the  soil  gradually,  an  inch  a  year,  until  the 
desired  depth  has  been  attained. 


SEED. 

The  term  “seed”  as  applied  to  the  cultivation  of  potatoes  has 
reference  to  the  tubers  which  are  used  for  the  reproduction  of  the 
crop.  Technically  the  word  “seed”  applies  to  the  fruit  of  the  plant 
which  is  borne  in  the  seed  balls  formed  after  the  blossoms  fall,  but 
with  potatoes  the  term  is  never  confused,  as  it  is  applied  universally 
to  the  tubers  for  planting,  which  are  used  either  whole  or  cut. 

NORTHERN-GROWN  SEED. 

In  growing  early  potatoes,  perhaps  more  than  any  other  single 
crop,  the  sources  from  which  the  seed  is  obtained  influence  the  result¬ 
ing  crop.  The  practice  which  is  almost  universally  followed  is  to 
plant  tubers  of  early  varieties  which  have  been  grown  for  several 
seasons  at  the  North.  The  demand  by  truck  farmers  for  northern- 
grown  seed  has  developed  a  very  considerable  industry  in  some  of 
the  potato-producing  regions,  notably  Maine,  Michigan,  and  Wiscon¬ 
sin.  Early  varieties  which  are  especially  adapted  to  truck  work  at 
the  South  are  in  these  northern  regions  planted  extensively  for  the 
purpose  of  producing  seed  to  be  used  in  the  South.  The  crop  is 
harvested  and  placed  in  storage  houses  either  at  the  North  or  at  the 
South,  where  it  can  be  made  available  to  the  growers  at  the  South 
early  in  the  spring  to  meet  the  demand  for  seed  for  early  planting. 

QUANTITY  OF  SEED. 

The  quantity  of  seed  used  to  the  acre  depends  largely  upon  the 
manner  in  which  it  is  planted;  that  is,  the  distance  between  the  rows, 
the  distance  between  the  hills  in  the  rows,  and  whether  the  seed  is 
used  whole  or  cut.  It  may,  however,  be  stated  in  general  terms  that 
from  8  to  12  bushels  of  seed  as  ordinarily  grown  are  required  to  plant 
an  acre.  If  the  potatoes  are  small  and  are  cut  to  two  eves,  8  bushels 
will  plant  an  acre;  if  the  potatoes  are  large  and  cut  to  two  eves,  8 
bushels  will  not  plant  a  measured  acre.  Some  successful  growers 
use  small  or  medium-sized  whole  potatoes,  others  cut  the  potatoes 
52052°— Bull.  407—10 - 2 


10 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


in  half,  while  still  others  cut  to  one  or  two  eyes.  If  the  potatoes  are 
sound  and  have  not  sprouted  to  any  considerable  extent  previous 
to  planting  and  have  not  been  subjected  to  unreasonably  low  or 
high  temperatures,  one  or  two  eye  pieces  from  a  medium-sized  potato 
will  give  good  results.  When  seed  potatoes  are  scarce  and  high  in 
price,  growers  will  endeavor  to  make  the  seed  go  as  far  as  possible  by 
cutting  it  to  one  or  two  eye  pieces. 

Tests  conducted  to  determine  the  best  character  of  seed  to  use 
indicate  that  a  potato  weighing  about  3  ounces,  when  cut  in  half  and 
planted  one  piece  in  a  place,  gives  the  best  results  so  far  as  yield  is 
concerned .  In  some  localities,  however,  particularly  where  excessively 
wet  or  excessively  dry  planting  periods  occur,  it  has  been  determined 
that  whole  potatoes  are  safer  for  the  early  crop  than  cut  seed. 

SECOND-CROP  POTATOES  FOR  SEED  AT  THE  SOUTH. 

Within  recent  years  there  has  been  a  marked  increase  in  the  use 
of  second-crop  potatoes  for  seed  throughout  the  southern  potato¬ 
growing  sections.  This  crop  is  frequently  grown  on  the  same  land 
from  which  the  first  crop  of  potatoes  was  harvested.  In  most 
instances,  however,  it  follows  beans  or  cucumbers,  as  the  seed  for 
this  second  potato  crop  is  not  usually  planted  until  July  or  August. 
The  seed  for  this  crop  is,  as  a  rule,  saved  from  the  early  crop,  the 
small  tubers  being  stored  in  a  well- ventilated  shed,  where  they  are 
protected  from  the  direct  action  of  the  sun  and  from  storms  until 
about  ten  days  or  two  weeks  before  the  time  of  planting,  when  they 
are  spread  thinly  upon  the  ground  and  lightly  covered  with  straw 
or  litter  to  partially  protect  them  from  the  sun.  Under  these  con¬ 
ditions  the  tubers  quickly  11  green”  and  all  those  suitable  for  seed  will 
develop  sprouts.  As  soon  as  the  sprouts  are  visible,  and  before  they 
are  large  enough  to  be  rubbed  off  in  handling,  the  potatoes  are  ready 
to  plant.  The  product  of  this  planting  gives  a  crop  of  partially 
matured  tubers  which  are  held  over  winter  for  spring  planting.  This 
practice  gives  excellent  results  in  many  localities  and  is  found  to  be 
more  economical  than  the  purchase  of  northern-grown  seed.  To 
what  extent  it  is  safe  to  follow  this  practice  without  renewing  the 
seed  from  the  North  by  the  use  of  fully  matured  tubers  has  not 
been  determined.  Those  following  the  method  should  carefully 
observe  the  quality  and  yield  of  the  crop  for  the  purpose  of  deter¬ 
mining  whether  or  not  it  is  deteriorating  under  this  treatment.  In 
general,  it  is  believed  that  it  will  be  within  the  limits  of  good  practice 
to  secure  every  second  or  third  year  enough  northern-grown  seed  to 
supply  seed  for  the  second  crop;  in  fact,  some  of  the  most  successful 
growers  of  potatoes  who  use  second-crop  seed  get  enough  northern- 
grown  seed  each  year  to  supply  planting  material  for  the  second  crop. 
In  this  practice  it  will  be  economy  to  err  on  the  side  of  safety  and 

407 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


11 


obtain  fresh  seed  frequently  from  reliable  northern  sources.  In  a 
majority  of  instances  it  is  found  that  second-crop  home-grown  seed 
is  slower  to  germinate,  as  shown  in  figure  3,  and  later  in  maturity 
than  northern-grown  seed,  and  as  quick  development  is  an  important 
element  in  the  crop  at  the  South,  growers  are  urged  to  consider  this 
point  carefully. 

RAPID  GERMINATION  OF  SECOND-CROP  SEED. 

A  novel  practice  for  securing  quick  growth  from  second-crop  seed 
has  been  developed  by  a  successful  potato  grower  in  Texas.  Mr. 
Morrell  has  developed  an  idea  which  is  closely  akin  to  the  practices 


Fig.  3. — A  field  of  potatoes  produced  from  home-grown  southern  seed,  at  the  left,  and  from  northern-grown 

seed,  at  the  right. 

of  the  potato  growers  of  the  Channel  Islands.  The  method  consists  in 
storing  the  tubers  of  the  second  crop  in  a  tight  building,  which  by 
the  use  of  artificial  heat  can  be  kept  frostproof.  At  harvest  time 
the  tubers  are  placed  in  slatted  crates  and  the  temperature  of  the 
storage  house  held  as  low  as  practicable  without  freezing  until  four 
to  six  weeks  before  planting  time,  when  the  temperature  is  raised  to 
68°  or  70°  F.  This  temperature  is  maintained  until  the  eyes  of  the 
potatoes  show  activity.  The  sprouts  should  not  be  allowed  to 
develop  to  any  considerable  length  before  planting  the  tubers,  on 
account  of  the  danger  of  breaking  them  in  the  necessary  handling  at 
planting  time.  If  the  sprouts  are  one-eighth  of  an  inch  or  less  in 


407 


12 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


length  there  should  be  little  loss  from  handling.  If  the  house  can 
be  well  lighted  at  the  time  the  temperature  is  raised,  the  sprouts 
which  develop  will  be  much  stouter  than  those  developed  in  the 
dark.  This  plan  provides  a  congenial  temperature  for  the  germina¬ 
tion  of  the  tubers  and  makes  it  possible  to  delay  planting  until  out¬ 
side  conditions  are  generally  favorable  for  the  rapid  growth  of  the 
plants,  and  to  use  for  seed  only  those  tubers  which  are  actually  viable. 
With  good  preparation  and  cultivation  this  method  should  give  a 
perfect  stand  and  a  decidedly  increased  yield,  together  with  the  early 
maturity  of  the  crop. 

This  plan  has  been  used  for  northern-grown  seed,  but  it  is  found 
that  the  mature  northern-grown  seed  responds  more  quickly  to  a 
given  heat  stimulus  and  consequently  does  not  require  to  be  placed 
in  a  warm  room  more  than  ten  days  to  two  weeks  before  planting. 

The  practice  on  the  Channel  Islands  accomplishes  the  same  results 
in  a  slightly  different  manner.  The  tubers  are  placed  one  layer  deep 
on  germinating  trays  which  are  arranged  on  racks  or  are  provided 
with  corner  posts  a  few  inches  long  so  as  to  admit  air  and  light. 
The  tubers  are  induced  to  germinate  in  the  trays,  and  at  planting 
time  only  those  with  well-developed  sprouts  are  used  for  planting. 
As  the  work  is  all  done  by  hand  there  is  little  danger  of  damage  to 
the  seed  from  breaking  off  the  sprouts.  In  all  sections  of  the  South 
where  hand  planting  is  practiced  this  method  of  procedure  is  per¬ 
fectly  practicable,  and  would  entirely  obviate  losses  from  poor 
stands  resulting  from  uncongenial  conditions  due  to  cold,  damp 
spring  weather  and  inferior  seed.  Planting  could  be  delayed  until 
conditions  were  favorable  and  poor  seed  would  be  detected  before 
it  was  planted. 

HELD-OVER  SEED. 

The  consensus  of  opinion  is  that  in  southern  localities  it  is  imprac¬ 
ticable  to  keep  early  potatoes  from  harvest  time  to  the  next  season’s 
planting  period.  The  conclusions  of  those  who  have  given  this 
problem  careful  study  are  that  the  exposure  of  the  tubers  to  the 
sun  at  harvest  time  is  the  chief  factor  in  determining  their  keeping 
qualities.  In  other  words,  it  is  possible  to  keep  potatoes  in  the 
extreme  South  from  season  to  season  provided  the  tubers  are  not 
exposed  to  the  sun  after  being  dug.  They  should  be  immediately 
carried  to  a  protected  place  where  there  is  ample  ventilation  and 
where  they  will  receive  only  diffused  light,  such  as  a  cyclone  or  other 
cellar,  or  the  basement  of  a  house,  or  even  where  brush  protection  will 
prevent  the  sun  shining  directly  upon  them.  It  is,  of  course,  necessary 
that  the  tubers  be  well  matured  before  being  dug  and  that  they  be  the 
product  of  disease-free  plants.  Plants  killed  by  blight  yield  tubers 
which  seldom  keep  well  even  under  the  most  favorable  conditions. 

407 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


13 


TREATMENT  OF  SEED  FOR  SCAB. 

In  preparing  seed  for  the  early  crop,  even  at  the  South,  where  the 
potatoes  are  to  be  marketed  immediately  after  harvesting,  the 
treatment  of  the  seed  is  believed  to  be  equally  as  important  as  at  the 
North.  The  treatment  of  potatoes  to  control  potato  scab  has  become 
a  regular  practice  among  the  most  successful  growers  at  the  North. 
Either  of  two  practices  may  be  followed  to  accomplish  this  result. 
The  potatoes  may  be  soaked  in  formaldehyde  or  a  solution  of  bichlo- 
rid  of  mercury,  or,  better  still,  where  conditions  will  permit,  fumigated 
while  in  the  car  or  warehouse  with  formaldehyde  gas. 

The  corrosive  sublimate  (bichlorid  of  mercury)  treatment  is  as 
follows:  Soak  the  uncut  seed  one  and  one-half  to  two  hours  in  a 
solution  made  by  dissolving  2  ounces  of  corrosive  sublimate  in 
16  gallons  of  water.  This  solution  is  exceedingly  poisonous  and 
must  be  guarded  to  prevent  stock  gaining  access  to  it. 

The  most  economical  and  effective  method  of  disinfecting  seed 
potatoes  on  a  large  scale  is  by  the  use  of  formaldehyde  gas  liberated 
by  mixing  the  commercial  solution  with  potassium  permanganate. 
The  following  description  of  this  method  of  disinfection  is  pre¬ 
sented  in  Circular  23  of  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  entitled 
“ Potato  Diseases  in  San  Joaquin  County,  California/’  by  Mr. 
William  A.  Orton,  being  adapted  from  Bulletins  141  and  149  of  the 
Maine  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  by  Mr.  W.  J.  Morse: 

To  use  it,  an  air-tight  shed  should  be  constructed  of  sufficient  size  to  hold  what¬ 
ever  quantity  it  may  be  desired  to  treat  at  one  time.  This  may  be  made  of  rough 
lumber,  lined  with  building  paper,  and  provided  with  a  tight  door.  The  potatoes 
may  be  treated  in  sacks,  but  these  sacks  must  be  piled  so  as  to  allow  a  free  circulation 
of  air  all  around  them.  It  is  suggested  that  they  be  piled  in  tiers,  with  two  2  by  4 
inch  scantlings  between  the  layers  of  sacks.  Space  should  be  left  in  the  center  of 
the  building  for  placing  the  charge  of  formaldehyde,  which  should  be  set  off  in 
shallow  pans,  such  as  galvanized  washtubs.  For  each  1,000  cubic  feet  23  ounces  of 
potassium  permanganate  and  3  pints  of  formaldehyde  should  be  allowed.  After 
the  potatoes  are  properly  stacked  and  everything  is  made  ready,  the  permanganate 
should  be  spread  in  a  thin  layer  on  the  bottom  of  the  pan,  the  required  quantity  of 
formaldehyde  poured  in  and  stirred  quickly,  and  the  building  vacated.  The  build¬ 
ing  should  then  be  kept  closed  tight  for  twenty-four  hours,  when  it  may  be  opened 
and  the  potatoes  taken  out. 

Formaldehyde  is  a  nonpoisonous  but  highly  irritant  fluid  which  can  be  purchased 
in  small  lots  at  about  50  cents  a  pound,  in  carboy  lots  at  20  cents,  or  in  barrel  lots 
at  about  12  cents.  Potassium  permanganate  is  a  reddish-brown  crystalline  sub¬ 
stance,*  purchasable  at  from  13  to  25  cents  a  pound. 

The  precaution  should  be  taken  not  to  pile  any  potatoes  directly  over  the  pans  or 
within  3  feet  laterally,  as  the  gas  there  might  be  strong  enough  to  injure  the  potatoes 
and  destroy  their  germinating  power.  The  formaldehyde  works  best  in  a  humid 
atmosphere.  It  is  therefore  advised  that  the  floor  of  the  shed  be  wet  down  before 
the  treatment  is  made.  The  potatoes,  however,  should  not  be  wet,  as  the  disinfec  ¬ 
tion  is  more  thorough  if  the  surfaces  are  dry. 

407 


14 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


Small  quantities  of  potatoes  may  be  disinfected  by  soaking  in  a  solution  of  1  pint 
of  formaldehyde  to  30  gallons  of  water  for  two  hours.  Either  the  gas  or  the  solution 
treatment  may  be  applied  some  time  previous  to  planting,  provided  the  potatoes  are 
not  exposed  to  reinfection  by  being  put  into  receptacles  that  have  previously  held 
scabby  potatoes.  The  treatment  should  also  be  made  before  the  potatoes  are  cut 
for  seed. 

The  expense  connected  with  the  treatment  of  seed  potatoes  by  the  gas  method  will 
vary  in  different  cases  according  to  the  amount  of  labor  required  in  handling  and 
whether  a  special  building  has  to  be  erected  for  the  purpose.  The  cost  of  labor  and 
of  the  building  will  be  the  principal  items.  The  cost  of  the  materials  need  not 
amount  to  over  1  cent  per  sack.  For  example,  a  shed  12  by  24  feet  and  7  feet  high 
contains  2,016  cubic  feet  and  would  require  3  pounds  of  potassium  permanganate, 
costing  60  cents,  and  6  pints  of  formaldehyde,  costing  $1.20;  total,  $1.80.  Two 
hundred  sacks  can  easily  be  treated  at  once  in  such  a  shed.  An  entire  day  should 
be  allowed  for  each  treatment. 

As  the  potato  scab  remains  in  the  soil  from  season  to  season,  as 
well  as  being  carried  to  the  field  by  the  seed,  it  is  of  the  utmost 
importance  that  the  potato  crop  be  used  in  rotation  with  other 
truck  crops,  so  as  to  allow  as  long  an  interval  as  possible  between 
successive  crops  of  potatoes  upon  the  same  land.  This  will  have 
the  tendency  to  “starve  out”  the  potato  scab  in  the  soil;  then  by 
the  use  of  scab-free  treated  seed  the  prospect  for  a  crop  of  smooth 
tubers  is  greatly  enhanced. 

CUTTING  THE  SEED. 

If  the  seed  is  cut  so  that  each  piece  carries  two  eyes,  it  is  customary 
to  plant  one  or  two  pieces  in  the  hill,  most  growers  preferring  to 
plant  two  pieces  in  a  hill,  with  the  hills  about  15  inches  apart,  rather 
than  to  rely  upon  a  single  piece.  Many  trials  have  been  very  suc¬ 
cessful  in  which  a  single  eye  was  used  for  each  hill.  Under  such 
circumstances,  however,  the  seed  must  be  of  excellent  quality  and 
the  land  in  a  very  high  state  of  cultivation. 

The  practice  on  Long  Island  is  to  use  northern-grown  seed  cut  to 
a  single  eye  and  to  plant  one  piece  in  a  place  at  intervals  of  13  or  14 
inches. 

PLANTING. 

In  the  ordinary  practice  of  growing  potatoes  as  a  truck  crop 
it  is  customary  to  plant  them  so  as  to  admit  of  cultivation  in  one 
direction  only,  the  rows  being  spaced  from  30  to  36  inches  according 
to  the  character  of  the  land  and  the  implements  used  in  cultivation. 
The  seed  potatoes  are  then  dropped  12  to  15  inches  apart  in  the 
rows,  the  strength  of  the  land  and  the  size  of  the  tubers  desired 
being  taken  into  consideration  to  determine  this  planting  distance. 
In  some  instances  the  potatoes  are  planted  slightly  above  the  gen¬ 
eral  level  of  the  field  by  first  throwing  up  ridges,  which  are  split  at 
407 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


15 


planting  time  to  admit  the  seed  and  provide  soil  for  covering  it. 
Ordinarily,  however,  the  potatoes  are  planted  practically  on  the 
level  without  throwing  up  ridges,  either  by  the  use  of  a  potato 
planter  or  by  opening  a  furrow  with  a  1 -horse  plow  and  dropping 
into  the  furrows  the  whole  or  cut  seed  by  hand  at  the  intervals  already 
mentioned.  It  is  customary  to  cover  the  seed  from  3  to  4  inches 
deep,  depending  on  the  soil,  whether  it  is  a  heavy,  retentive  loam 
or  rather  light  and  sandy  in  its  nature,  the  shallower  depths  being 
employed  when  the  soil  is  retentive  and  the  deeper  planting  fol¬ 
lowed  when  the  land  is  light  and  sandy  or  if  at  all  subject  to  drought. 

Everything  considered,  for  the  extremely  early  crop  in  regions 
where  irrigation  is  not  depended  upon  and  where  conditions  are 
severe  it  is  undoubtedly  best  to  plant  whole  potatoes,  a  single  potato 
of  moderate  size  in  each  place.  It  is  believed  that  uncut  tubers 
can  withstand  the  vicissitudes  of  excessive  moisture  or  excessive 
drought  better  than  cut  tubers.  This  practice  requires  more  seed 
than  when  the  tubers  are  cut  and  does  not  increase  the  yield  suffi¬ 
ciently  to  justify  the  use  of  the  whole  potatoes  when  the  climate  is 
not  subject  to  extremes  of  drought  and  to  excessive  rainfall. 

FERTILIZERS. 

Three  types  of  fertilizers  are  used  in  the  cultivation  of  potatoes, 
namely,  commercial  fertilizers,  green  manures,  and  farmyard  ma¬ 
nures.  Commercial  fertilizers  are  extensively  used  in  the  production 
of  truck-crop  potatoes,  particularly  on  the  Atlantic  seaboard.  If 
they  are  supplemented  at  all  it  is  by  growing  a  crop  of  green  manure 
upon  the  land  the  previous  season  and  turning  it  under  so  that  it 
will  become  thoroughly  decomposed  before  the  potatoes  are  planted. 
For  this  purpose  soy  beans,  cowpeas,  or  velvet  beans  are  chiefly  used. 
These  should  be  plowed  down  the  previous  fall  as  soon  as  they  are 
sufficiently  mature. 

As  little  farmyard  manure  is  available  in  the  Southern  States  where 
the  early  crop  of  potatoes  is  chiefly  produced,  this  seldom  enters  as  a 
factor  in  the  production  of  the  crop.  Commercial  fertilizers  of  a 
nature  especially  adapted  to  the  potato  crop  form  the  chief  reliance 
of  the  growers.  A  fertilizer  carrying  3  to  4  per  cent  of  nitrogen,  6  to 
8  per  cent  of  phosphoric  acid,  and  8  to  10  per  cent  of  potash  is  used 
at  the  rate  of  500  to  1,500  pounds  to  the  acre,  depending  upon 
the  crop  which  is  to  follow  the  potato  crop  and  the  liberality  of  the 
grower.  The  fertilizer  may  be  applied  broadcast  if  put  on  at  the  rate 
of  1,000  pounds  or  more  to  the  acre.  When  less  than. 1,000  pounds  to 
the  acre  are  used  it  is  almost  universally  applied  along  the  line  of  the 
row,  a  furrow  being  opened  for  the  reception  of  the  fertilizer,  which 
is  scattered  by  hand  or  by  a  distributor  which  can  be  used  to  fertilize 
407 


16 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TBUCK  CROP. 


several  rows  at  a  time,  as  shown  in  figure  4.  After  the  fertilizer  has 
been  distributed,  a  cultivator  is  run  along  the  line  of  the  rows  to  incor¬ 
porate  the  fertilizer  with  the  soil  in  order  to  prevent  its  coming  in 
contact  with  the  seed  when  planted.  Sometimes  the  furrow  is  refilled 
and  reopened  prior  to  the  planting  of  the  seed,  so  as  to  incorporate 
the  fertilizer  more  completely  with  the  soil.  Still  another  plan  is  to 
open  the  furrow,  distribute  about  one-half  the  quantity  of  fertilizer 
to  be  used  in  the  bottom,  incorporate  it.  with  the  soil,  plant  the  pota¬ 
toes,  partially  cover  them,  and  scatter  the  remainder  of  the  applica¬ 
tion  on  the  seed  bed  above  the  seed. 

,  FERTILIZER  CONSTITUENTS. 

Preliminary  results  of  investigations  now  in  progress  to  determine 
the  kind  and  quantity  of  fertilizer  best  adapted  to  truck  crops  indi¬ 
cate  that  on  the  soils  of  the  Long  Island  and  Norfolk  areas  the  source 
of  potash  for  a  potato  fertilizer  should  be  sulphate  of  potash  and  that 


Fig.  4.— A  fertilizer  distributor. 


the  use  of  large  quantities  of  nitrate  in  the  form  of  nitrate  of  soda  is 
not  economical.  The  treatments  which  show  greatest  promise  in  both 
areas  as  a  result  of  two  years’  trial  are  heavy  applications  of  cotton¬ 
seed  meal,  tankage,  and  sulphate  of  potash. 

CULTIVATION. 

It  is  not  far  from  the  truth  to  say  that  the  major  part  of  the  cul¬ 
tivation  of  the  potato  patch  should  be  done  before  the  potatoes  are 
planted.  In  other  words,  the  ground  should  be  most  carefully  and 
thoroughly  prepared  and  as  soon  as  the  seed  has  been  placed  in  the 
ground,  cultivation,  in  the  ordinary  acceptance  of  the  word,  can  be 
begun  by  going  over  the  field  with  a  spike-tootli  harrow.  This  will 
serve  to  restore  a  uniform  surface  and  will  at  the  same  time  destroy 
any  small  weeds  which  may  have  appeared.  Even  after  the  young 
plants  have  appeared  above  the  surface  of  the  ground  it  is  a  very 

407 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


17 


economical  way  of  continuing  the  cultivation  to  use  the  harrow, 
and  after  the  vines  have  reached  a  height  of  3  or  4  inches  cultivation 
can  be  most  economically  and  advantageously  carried  on  if  level  cul¬ 
ture  is  practiced  by  the  use  of  the  weeder.  If  all  cultivation  must 
be  done  by  a  single  horse,  the  use  of  a  weeder  and  modern  implements, 
such  as  the  spike-tooth  harrow  and  five-toothed  cultivator  of  improved 
type  will  best  serve  the  purpose.  With  the  last-mentioned  implement 
it  is  possible  to  keep  the  surface  of  the  soil  very  fine  and  practically 
level,  and  later  in  the  season,  if  it  is  desirable  to  ridge  the  vines  slightly 
for  the  purpose  of  keeping  the  tubers  thoroughly  covered  and  free 
from  sun  scald,  this  can  be  accomplished  by  the  use  of  winged  teeth 
upon  the  cultivator,  as  shown  in  figure  5. 

While  it  is  a  common  practice  throughout  the  truck-growing  region 
of  the  country  to  carry  on  practically  all  of  the  cultivation  of  potatoes 
with  1-liorse  implements,  yet  for  the  sake  of  economy  it  is  believed 
that  the  type  of  cul¬ 
tivator  employed  in 
the  West  for  culti¬ 
vating  corn  would 
prove  to  have  ad¬ 
vantages  over  the 
1 -horse  implements. 

By  means  of  this  de¬ 
vice  it  is  possible  to 
work  both  sides  of 
the  row  at  the  same 
time,  and  one  man 
can  accomplish  con¬ 
siderably  more  upon 
a  riding  implement  of  this  type  than  with  a  1 -horse  walking  implement, 
such  as  that  described. 

The  frequency  of  cultivation  depends  largely  upon  the  character  of 
the  season.  If  showers  which  have  a  tendency  to  make  a  crust  upon 
the  soil  or  compact  it  are  frequent,  the  soil  should  be  stirred  as  soon 
as  it  can  be  worked  after  each  rain.  When  the  land  is  weedy,  the 
more  frequent  the  cultivation  with  horsepower,  the  less  work  will  be 
necessary  with  the  hoe  in  order  to  keep  the  area  clean.  It  is  impos¬ 
sible,  therefore,  to  determine  the  number  of  cultivations  necessary  to 
perfect  a  crop  of  potatoes,  so  much  depending  upon  the  character  of 
the  season  and  the  character  of  the  soil. 


Fig.  5. — A  cultivator  with  wing  or  hilling  teeth. 


SPRAYING. 


The  fact  that  the  early  varieties  of  potatoes  used  by  truck  farmers 
and  market  gardeners  are  dug,  as  a  rule,  before  full  maturity  renders 
the  necessity  for  spraying  somewhat  less  imperative  than  in  the  more 

407 


18 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


northern  sections,  where  large  yields  depend  upon  maintaining 
growth  as  late  in  the  fall  as  possible. 

Spraying  with  arsenicals  for  the  beetle  is  necessary  except  in  the 
extreme  South,  and  injuries  from  arsenical  poisoning,  tipburn,  and 
the  early-blight  fungus  are  so  general  that  spraying  with  Bordeaux 
mixture  and  an  arsenical  combined  should  become  the  established 
farm  practice.  The  poison  may  be  either  Paris  green  or  arsenate  of 
lead  at  the  rate  of  8  ounces  to  50  gallons  of  water.  The  former  burns 
the  leaves  when  used  alone  and  in  large  quantities,  but  not  when 
applied  with  Bordeaux  mixture.  The  Bordeaux  mixture  is  not  a 
poison  to  the  beetle,  but  acts  as  a  partial  deterrent.  It  also  dimin¬ 
ishes  the  tipburn,  probably  by  protecting  the  plants  against  excessive 
loss  of  water  and  by  direct  stimulation. 

PREPARATION  OF  BORDEAUX  MIXTURE. 


To  make  the  Bordeaux  mixture  on  a  small  scale  take  two  half-barrel 
tubs,  one  for  the  copper-sulphate  solution  and  the  other  for  the  milk- 


Fig.  6.— An  elevated  platform,  showing  a  modern  arrangement  for  the  preparation  of  Bordeaux  mixture. 


of-lime  solution.  Place  5  pounds  of  lime  in  one  tub  and  slake  this 
with  sufficient  water  to  thoroughly  break  up  the  lime  without  allow¬ 
ing  it  to  burn.  After  the  lime  is  thoroughly  slaked  dilute  it  to  25 
gallons.  Into  the  other  tub  pour  25  gallons  of  water  and  suspend  in 
it  5  pounds  of  copper  sulphate  in  a  gunny  sack  or  other  porous  sack 
for  24  to  48  hours  before  the  solution  is  required.  Bordeaux  mixture 
is  then  made  by  pouring  these  two  solutions  through  a  wire-cloth 
sieve  which  has  about  18  to  20  meshes  to  the  inch,  equal  quantities 

'  407 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


19 


of  the  two  solutions  being  poured  at  the  same  time  through  the 
strainer,  which  should  be  suspended  over  a  barrel  or  other  receptacle 
sufficiently  large  to  hold  50  gallons  of  the  mixture.  In  making  this 
combination  it  is  best  to  have  two  men  dipping  simultaneously  from 
the  two  receptacles  and  pouring  the  two  solutions  together  into  the 
strainer.  The  milk-of-lime  and  the  copper  solutions  should  at  all 
times  be  kept  thoroughly  stirred. 

When  large  quantities  of  Bordeaux  mixture  are  required  stock 
solutions  are  made  in  50-gallon  casks  (see  tig.  6),  the  concentration 
of  the  copper-sulphate  solution  being  1  pound  of  copper  sulphate 
for  each  gallon  of  water;  that  is,  50  pounds  of  copper  sulphate  to 


Fig.  7. — A  spraying  rig  for  applying  liquid  to  both  the  upper  and  the  under  surfaces  of  leaves. 

50  gallons  of  water.  The  lime  solution  carries  1  pound  of  lime  for 
each  gallon  of  water;  that  is,  50  pounds  ol  lime  to  50  gallons  ol 
water.  In  making  Bordeaux  mixture  5  gallons  of  the  copper-sulphate 
stock  solution  are  placed  in  one  dilution  barrel  and  5  gallons  ol  t lie- 
stock  solution  of  lime  in  a  second  dilution  barrel;  each  dilution  barrel 
is  then  supplied  with  sufficient  water  to  make  25  gallons  in  each  recep¬ 
tacle.  These  diluted  solutions  are  then  drawn  or  poured  together,  as 
above  described,  to  make  Bordeaux  mixture. 

The  mixture  should  be  applied  by  means  ol  nozzles  pioducing  i 
mistlike  spray,  carried  so  as  to  apply  the  solution  to  both  tin  h'P 
407 


20 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


and  the  under  sides  of  the  foliage  of  the  vines.  On  a  large  scale  auto¬ 
matic  horsepower  machines,  such  as  shown  in  figures  7  and  8,  will  be 
required  to  do  the  work  economically,  but  on  a  small  scale  the  work 
can  be  done  with  a  knapsack  or  other  hand-power  sprayer.  The 
spraying  must  be  thorough  to  be  effective. 

Frequently  flea  beetles  occur  in  potato  fields  in  vast  numbers, 
attacking  the  leaves  and  causing  innumerable  tiny  holes  to  appear. 
In  infested  regions,  when  systematic  spraying  for  the  control  of  blight 
by  the  use  of  Bordeaux  mixture  is  carried  out,  it  is  a  well-known  fact 
that  injury  from  flea  beetles  is  decidedly  less.  It  is  fortunate  that* 


Fig.  8. — A  side  view  of  the  spraying  machine  shown  in  figure  7. 


the  treatment  for  the  control  of  the  blight  is  also  a  satisfactory  and 
economical  treatment  for  this  form  of  insect  pest. 

HARVESTING. 

Early  potatoes  grown  as  market-garden  or  truck  crops  and  intended 
for  immediate  consumption  are,  as  a  rule,  harvested  as  soon  as  they 
have  reached  marketable  size,  regardless  of  the  maturity  of  the  crop. 
Because  of  the  immature  condition  of  the  tubers  it  is  essential  that 
the  crop  be  handled  carefully  and  quickly.  The  tender  tubers  are 
easily  bruised  and  damaged  in  appearance;  consequently  care  should 
be  exercised  in  the  conduct  of  all  operations  connected  with  the  har¬ 
vesting  of  this  crop.  As  a  further  safeguard  to  loss  from  bruising  at 
harvest  time  or  during  transit  the  growers  and  the  trade  have  deter¬ 
mined  upon  the  red-skinned  varieties  as  best  adapted  to  withstand 

407 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP.  21 

these  misfortunes.  Scars  and  bruises  show  less  on  red-skinned  than 
on  white-skinned  sorts. 

The  varieties  in  most  common  use  among  truckers  are  known  as 
Irish  Cobbler,  having  a  white  skin,  and  Bliss  Triumph,  a  red-skinned 
sort. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  red-skinned  sorts  handle  better,  the 
smaller  yield  usually  obtained  from  such  varieties  has  led  all  growers 
except  those  located  at  extreme  distances  from  the  market  to  use 
white-skinned  sorts.  Bed  varieties  are  not  employed  extensively 
along  the  Atlantic  coast,  although  they  make  up  the  bulk  of  the  crop 
grown  in  the  Gulf  Coast  States. 

DIGGING. 

While  the  harvesting  of  early  Irish  potatoes  grown  for  home  con¬ 
sumption  is  largely  carried  on  by  hand,  in  some  localities  improved 


Fig.  9. — Harvesting  potatoes  in  a  trucking  section. 


implements,  such  as  potato  diggers  and  potato  sorters,  are  brought 
into  service.  The  truck  farmers  along  the  Atlantic  coast,  however, 
adhere  largely  to  the  simpler  methods  of  handling  the  crop,  as  sug¬ 
gested  in  figures  9  and  10.  This  is  undoubtedly  accounted  for  by 
the  fact  that  labor  is  more  abundant  and  not  so  well  trained  in  the 
use  of  improved  machinery  as  in  the  more  northern  and  western  dis¬ 
tricts.  In  digging  early  potatoes  in  the  Atlantic  coast  district  ordi¬ 
nary  1 -horse  turning  plows  are  used.  Laborers  follow  the  plows  and 
gather  the  potatoes  from  the  soil  and  throw  them,  four  or  six  rows 
together,  in  piles,  after  which  they  are  sorted  and  put  into  barrels 

407 


22 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


for  shipment.  In  the  potato  regions  of  Louisiana  and  Texas,  where 
early  potatoes  form  a  crop  of  considerable  importance,  improved 
machinery  is  largely  depended  upon  for  harvesting. 

PACKAGES. 

The  packages  for  early  potatoes  are  determined  partly  by  custom 
and  the  demands  of  the  market,  but  largely  by  the  local  timber  supply. 
In  regions  where  timber  is  plentiful  and  barrels  and  crates  figure 
largely  in  the  shipment  of  other  truck  crops,  potatoes  are  chiefly 
shipped  in  barrels,  as  shown  in  figure  11.  In  other  localities  burlap 
sacks  are  chiefly  employed,  as  is  the  case  in  most  regions  growing  late 
potatoes. 


Pig.  10.— Potatoes  in  barrels  in  the  field  ready  for  shipment. 


Up  to  the  present  time  no  standard  measure,  barrel,  or  bag  for  the 
handling  of  potatoes  has  been  adopted.  Recently  certain  States 
have  passed  laws  requiring  that  these  packages  should  come  up  to  a 
given  standard,  usually  170  pounds  net  for  a  barrel,  and  that  all 
short-measure  packages  entering  their  markets  should  be  so  marked. 
The  barrel  used  by  the  trucker  of  the  Atlantic  coast  region  during 
past  years  holds  about  11  pecks  and  weighs  from  155  to  165  pounds 
net.  These  barrels  cost  the  grower  about  22  cents  each,  including 
the  burlap  cover.  The  bags  used  for  the  handling  of  the  crop  grown 
in  the  southwestern  region  cost  the  grower  about  5  cents  each  in 
lots  of  1,000  or  more.  These  packages  are  used  but  once  and  are 
not  returned  to  the  grower. 

407 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


23 


GRADING. 

The  grading  of  early  potatoes  is  quite  as  important  as  the  grading 
of  fruits.  Large  and  small  tubers  should  not  be  mixed  in  the  same 
barrel.  The  pickers  should  be  taught  to  gather  the  large  and  mer¬ 
chantable  tubers  in  one  basket  and  the  small  or  seed  potatoes  in 
another,  and  these  if  placed  upon  the  market  should  go  in  separate 
receptacles  and  be  clearly  marked  so  as  to  represent  the  grade.  If 
a  mechanical  sorter  is 
used  this  work  will  be 
more  effectively  accom¬ 
plished  than  if  left  to 
the  pickers. 

The  type  of  grader 
usually  used  is  similar 
to  that  employed  in 
some  sections  for  grad¬ 
ing  apples  and  peaches, 
although  the  common 
type  of  potato  grader 
is  a  rotary  screen  which 
separates  the  earth 
from  the  tubers  and 
allows  the  small  tubers 
to  fall  through  the  large 
meshes  of  the  screen  be¬ 
fore  reaching  the  gen¬ 
eral  outlet  which  carries 
away  those  of  mer¬ 
chantable  size.  The 
objection  to  a  mechan¬ 
ical  grader  of  this  type 
is  that  it  bruises  the 
immature  tubers  and 
renders  them  some¬ 
what  less  attractive 

than  when  not  SO  hail-  Fig.  n.— A  barrel  of  new  potatoes  ready  for  the  northern  market. 

died  and  probably  also  shortens  the  length  of  time  they  can  be  safely 
held  on  the  market. 

MARKETING. 

The  perishable  nature  of  the  immature  potato  renders  it  necessary 
to  place  it  upon  the  market  in  such  quantities  only  as  will  admit  of 
immediate  consumption.  Producers  in  regions  where  the  growing 
of  early  potatoes  has  been  extensively  developed  appreciate  this  and 
407 


24 


THE  POTATO  AS  A  TRUCK  CROP. 


have  provided  for  this  condition  by  organizing  shippers’  associations 
through  which  the  crop  is  graded,  often  trade-marked,  and  dis¬ 
tributed  chiefly  in  carload  lots.  The  officers  of  the  association  being 
in  constant  telegraphic  communication  with  the  various  markets 
are  thus  informed  regarding  the  most  satisfactory  destination  for 
every  consignment  which  may  be  necessary.  It  is  the  purpose  of 
these  associations,  however,  to  conduct  their  business  in  such  a  way 
that  the  product  can  be  sold  f.  o.  b.  shipping  point  instead  of  by 
consignment,  and  the  best  organized  associations  are  usually  able 
to  do  this.  Some  of  the  best  managed  truck  exchanges  are  able  to 
dispose  of  over  90  per  cent  of  the  total  product  handled  on  an  f.  o.  b. 
(free-on-board)  shipping-point  basis. 

The  great  advantage  of  such  a  system  of  selling  is  that  it  enables 
the  brokers  in  a  small  city  or  town  to  buy  direct  from  the  producer 
instead  of  through  another  city  broker.  It  enables  the  consumer 
to  obtain  fresh  products,  as  they  are  shipped  direct  from  the  point 
of  production  to  the  place  of  consumption.  The  plan  carries  other 
benefits  which  are  of  great  moment  to  the  producer.  He  is  enabled 
to  sell  in  carload  lots  at  shipping  point,  thus  saving  to  himself  the 
cost  of  transportation,  which  ranges  from  7  to  15  per  cent  of  the 
gross  selling  price.  The  exchange  secures  a  much  wider  distribution 
of  the  crop,  with  the  result  that  overstocked  markets  are  much  less 
likely  than  under  the  consignment  system.  Transportation  com¬ 
panies  provide  better  service,  and  claims  are  more  promptly  settled 
through  the  exchange  than  in  the  case  of  individuals.  This  plan 
enables  the  producer  to  be  his  own  salesman.  It  transfers  the 
distributing  point  from  the  city  to  the  field,  where  it  should  be.  It 
brings  the  market  to  the  field  instead  of  the  product  to  the  market. 
The  exchange  becomes  the  farmer’s  commission  house,  and  it  is  much 
easier  to  keep  informed  regarding  the  transactions  of  a  home  asso¬ 
ciation  than  of  a  foreign  concern. 


407 


o 


